The Talon

The Talon

COVID-19 Impacts on AACPS

The effects of the pandemic on our community.

Courtesy of AACPS

Dr. Karen B. Salmon, State Superintendent orders schools to remain closed until April 24, 2020. In response, Mr. George Arlotto the Superintendent of Schools sent out a letter which explained a formalized way of online learning. “Google Classroom and Google Meet [are] two tools that will be critical for our distance learning efforts,” Arlotto said.

The term “coronacation” was coined by high schoolers as the name for the indefinite amount of time students remain at home in the midst of this pandemic. The outbreak of COVID-19 has delayed the start of SPHS’s spring sports, Wish Week and caused the cancellation of the annual Rock n’ Roll Revival. On March 25, Dr. Karen B. Salmon, the State Superintendent of schools, announced that the original two-week shut down of public schools would be extended to April 24, 2020, further delaying when the community will return to day-to-day life.

Not attending class, however, does not mean that education has stopped as well. On the AACPS website, there are television times listed for watchable classes, designed for kids from kindergarten through eighth grade. There are also educational resources posted for all students. Recently, Salmon sent out a letter regarding the online learning situation. Online learning will occur on Google Classroom and Google Meet from 8 to 11a.m. and resume from 1 to 4p.m., leaving a two hour break for lunch. This new form of learning will begin on April 6. On Google Classroom, assignments can be posted and graded, and Google Meet can be used as a group Facetime for discussions. Moreover, Advanced Placement (AP) testing has become an online, shortened, 45-minute test. The March and May SATs have been cancelled, but the June test date remains and will be decided on later.

Bob Mosier, also known as “make the call Bob” to students hoping for a snow day, is the Chief Communications Officer for AACPS. Mosier stated that the Anne Arundel County Department of Health and Maryland State Department of Education are having daily conversations on the actions which will be taken during this unprecedented situation. Currently, all public schools are being cleaned by several custodial crews and the execution of a formalized online learning is being discussed. Many seniors are worried about the outcome of their prom and graduation. However, Mr. Mosier and Dr. Karen B. Salmon want to reiterate that the seniors will still be appreciated during the current situation. “We will do whatever it is we can do to celebrate our seniors to the greatest extent,” Mosier said. For now, however, classes will be online and the school year after April 24 remains undecided.